The ICC Cricket World Cup is just 5 days away with World Champions England taking on New Zealand in the opening match of the tournament to be played at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
It promises to be a high-scoring affair with pitches likely to support the batters. The 10 teams participating in this mega event have top-quality batters who can change the course of the game with their match-winning efforts.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Here we look at the probable leading run scorer from each team
1. Shubman Gill – India
The explosive right-handed batter will play a crucial role in providing attacking starts to the team along with Rohit Sharma. He has been in excellent form of late with the top leading runs scorer in Asia Cup 2023 with 302 runs including the best score of 121 in the final Super 4 game against Bangladesh.
He finished as the leading runs scorer in the recent ODI series against Australia where he made 1 half-century and 1. For his 178, Gill was named the man of the series award and did not feature in the final ODI at Rajkot.
Playing his first World Cup, Shubman Gill would look to create an impact with some match-winning performances opening the innings and helping Team India provide excellent starts in the first 10 overs.
2. Steve Smith – Australia
Steve Smith has shown some promise in the recent One-day international series against India. With the conditions looking good for batting, Smith will play an important role by coming at number 3 and providing stability.
Smith had a superb 2019 World Cup for Australia with 379 runs from 10 matches (10 innings) including 4 half-centuries with the best score of 85. He can play spin well and would be handy to put pressure on the opponents with his wristy work.
He played a key role for Australia in the 2019 World Cup helping them to reach the semi-finals. Coming in an important position, Smith needs to create a huge impact and make sure that 5-time World Champion do their job brilliantly.
3. Jos Buttler – England
The England captain Jos Buttler will look to showcase his attacking skills depending upon the situation. Buttler made an impression with 312 runs from 11 matches (9 innings) with 1 century and 2 half-centuries to his name including the best score of 103.
Buttler has been demonstrating brilliant batting skills in recent times. The captain has shown tremendous consistency with 548 runs in 10 matches (10 innings) during ODIs this year with 1 century and 3 half-centuries including the best score of 131. Buttler will play an important role in providing the impetus with his power-hitting and keep defending champions on course for victories.
4. Devon Conway – New Zealand
New Zealand’s consistent opener Devon Conway has been doing brilliantly in the One-day international format. He has been providing good starts in the first 10 overs and the ability to convert starts into big scores.
Conway would be playing his first World Cup at this stage against a top-quality bowling lineup. He can play well against the pacers and spinners which will keep him in good stead ahead of the World Cup 2023.
The left-handed opener would be eager to give good starts and lay a strong foundation to help New Zealand register victories which will create an impact on the scores. He has scored 449 runs in 10 matches (10 innings) in ODIs during 2023 including 3 centuries and 1 half-century.
5. Quinton de Kock – South Africa
Quinton de Kock would be looking to create a lasting impression as he will be playing his last One-day international World Cup. He showed glimpses of his form with attacking knocks during the recent series against Australia.
During the 2019 World Cup played in England and Wales, de Kock scored 305 runs from 9 matches (9 innings) with 3 half-centuries to his name including the best score of 68. De Kock will play a key role in providing attacking starts in the first 10 overs making sure that South Africa posts decent totals or chase down the targets.
De Kock’s ability to transfer the pressure on the bowlers makes him a dangerous batter to bowl at. If the explosive opener can showcase his class, then South Africa has a great chance of winning matches easily.
6. Babar Azam – Pakistan
The Pakistan captain Babar Azam struggled in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2023. He could not muster any half-centuries during that tournament. Babar Azam needs to prove his worth as a batter depending on the situation during the matches.
He is the backbone of the Pakistani batting lineup currently. Coming at number 3, Babar needs to contribute significantly and help Pakistan post decent totals on good batting pitches that would test the brittle middle order.
Babar Azam finished as the leading run scorer for Pakistan in the 2019 World Cup with 474 runs from 8 matches with 1 century and 3 half-centuries to his name including the best score of 101 not out. If Pakistan is to do well, he must play a key role in helping Pakistan post or chase down targets.
7. Kusal Mendis – Sri Lanka
Kusal Mendis has been in excellent form of late with some brilliant knocks during the recently concluded Asia Cup 2023. Coming at number 3, Mendis proved to be a match-winner and helped Sri Lanka win matches with his explosive batting.
He was the second leading run-scorer in Asia Cup 2023 with 270 runs from 6 matches (6 innings) including 3 half-centuries to his name with the best score of 92 against Pakistan. Coming at number 3, Kusal Mendis will play a key role in helping Sri Lanka build the innings and keep the momentum of the Sri Lankan innings going on.
8. Bas de Leede – Netherlands
The Netherlands qualified for this World Cup after some lovely performances. Bas de Leede played a key role in helping the Netherlands make it into this mega event. Coming down lower down the order, he can play attacking shots and put pressure on opponents with his powerful strokes.
De Leede had a brilliant tournament with 285 runs from 7 matches ( 7 innings) with the best score of 123 against Scotland helping the Netherlands to qualify for this mega event. He will play a key role in providing late impetus to the innings and help them hit big shots making life tough for the opponent bowlers.
9. Mushfiqur Rahim – Bangladesh
The experienced batter from Bangladesh, Mushfiqur Rahim has been the backbone of the batting lineup for quite a long time. Apart from Najimul Hasan Shanto, Rahim was another top scorer for Bangladesh in the 2023 Asia Cup. He finished with 131 runs from 4 matches (innings) including the best score of 64 against Pakistan.
Rahim had an outstanding World Cup 2019 with 367 runs from 8 matches (8 innings) with 1 century and 2 half-centuries to his name including the best score of 102 not out. He will play a key role for Bangladesh in the middle order to help them post decent totals or chase down the targets.
10. Ibrahim Zadran – Afghanistan
The stylish right-handed opener Ibrahim Zadran looked composed with well complied 75-run knock in the second league match against Bangladesh at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore in Asia Cup 2023. His performances have been brilliant with match-winning knocks while opening the innings and keeping the pressure on the bowlers.
Ibrahim Zadran has a great opening partnership with Rahmanullah Gurbaz in One-day internationals and creating an impact. During 2023, Zadran looked in great shape with 478 runs from 11 matches (11 innings) including 1 century and 4 half-centuries to his name.
Playing his first World Cup, Ibrahim Zadran has to play a key role in putting pressure on opponent bowlers on good batting pitches.
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